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ECONOMY
-In January 2024, the weighted average interest rate on new loans to households and non-financial corporations increased by 4 basis points to 6.15%, according to the Bank of Greece (BoG). Meanwhile, the weighted average interest rate on new deposits remained almost unchanged at 0.53%.
-Imported agricultural products are being baptized Greek due to inadequate controls, To Vima reported. Honey from China, apples from Bulgaria, kiwis from Iran, oranges from Egypt, milk and lamb meat from Romania and Bulgaria are among the products often misrepresented.
-Athens-based Ferryscanner, a search engine and online booking service for ferry boat tickets, is the first Greek company on the FT1000 Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies 2024. The second Greek company is Active Energy Solutions, one of the biggest distributors of Solar equipment in Greece and Cyprus.
SHIPPING
A total of 19 million passengers were transported in the main ports of the country in 2019, according to Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT). Passenger traffic is expected to be increased by 5% in 2024 compared to 2019, Naftemporiki reported.
TOURISM
-Air China capacity on Athens-Beijing route increases 128% year-on-year, according to Air China Athens General Manager Fan Heyun. From 2019 to 2024, Air China’s Athens-Beijing service will grow by 67%.
-Alpha Bank, one of Greece’s systemic banks, in its latest economic bulletin, projects the Greek tourism sector will remain robust in 2024.
REAL ESTATE
In 2023, apartment prices in Greece increased by 13.4% compared to an 11.9% rise in 2022, data by the Bank of Greece showed. In the fourth quarter of 2023 apartment prices increased by 10.8% in the Greek capital Athens, 14.6% in Thessaloniki, 13.9% in other cities and 11.2% in other areas of Greece.
GENERAL
The first 140 electric buses from Chinese company Yutong arrived in Athens on Sunday. Two days earlier, 110 buses of the same manufacturer arrived with another ship at the port of Thessaloniki. This is part of the large supply of 550 (out of 770 initially) buses for the two cities through the tender that is underway since 2021.
